Piper PA-12 accident near Rayville, Louisiana, March 22, 1994
On March 22, 1994, a Piper PA-12, registered N2966M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rayville, Louisiana (Rayville Minicipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED DURING THE TURN TO FINAL APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1994
- Place
- Rayville, Louisiana · Rayville Minicipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2966M · no longer on the register · serial 12-1360
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING APPROACH THE PILOT OVERSHOT THE RUNWAY AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO REALIGN THE AIRCRAFT THE PILOT EXECUTED A STEEP TURN. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE TURN FROM BASE TO FINAL THE NOSE FELL AND THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A SPIN. HE REGAINED CONTROL; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOT SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO AVOID GROUND IMPACT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Flight time: 370 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 296 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,816 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 18,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from MLU, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2966M the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.